Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3), Kahlen Aymes [essential reading txt] 📗

the long walk out. My stomach rumbled loudly. Marin would probably be cooking a huge spread for breakfast. I couldn’t wait to get home to her.

Home. The word stuck in my head and I smiled. She was home.

***

Back at the station, I took a shower and changed into the clean set of clothes I always kept there.

Captain Connors walked into the bunk room as I closed my locker. “I just wanted to say thanks for coming in.”

“No problem.”

He reached out and offered his hand which I took gladly. “Glad you’re part of our crew. You were like a lion leading those men out there. I thought it would take twice as long to get to them.”

“I had to get my boys,” I said easily. My hair was still wet from the shower, though I’d run a quick comb through it, I could feel the water dripping down the back of my neck.

“Well, you and the others did a stellar job.”

“Do you need me to come back for another shift?” I asked, hoping I wouldn’t need to.

“No, the boys from Idaho are taking it from here because it’s pretty much out. Take the rest of the week off as we agreed.”

“Thanks. My sister’s family is visiting, and we have a lot planned with the kids.”

The captain nodded. “How old are they?”

“Two eight-year-olds and a little boy who is two.” Remi wasn’t quite eight, but she was close enough.

“Bring ‘em by later and we can take the engine out for a ride.”

My face split into a huge grin. “I’m sure they’d love that. Thank you.”

“Now get the hell out of here,” he said jovially. “See you next week.”

It was Sunday and half of the day was already wasted. I was sorry that Marin had to work at the diner tomorrow. It was too late for the fishing trip I’d promised Dylan and Remi had been looking forward to the nature walk and treasure hunt with Marin. She was a natural with the kids and I found myself picturing her mothering our kids.

If she wasn’t too angry at me, I’d have to speak to her about it when we had a moment alone. I jumped into my truck, fired up the engine and soon, I was rumbling out of town and toward the ranch.

When I pulled in, my brother-in-law and Chase were letting the horses into the pasture. Dylan and Remi must have watched me close enough and were giving instructions to their respective fathers. The men were all smiles as they worked.

Chase, who was holding Jace in his arms, raised a hand to wave at me as the truck came to a stop and I got out of it. Remi and Dylan’s heads snapped around and they both took off running in my direction, hitting me with such force, I thought they’d knock me to the ground.

“Uncle Ben!”

“Uncle Ben!”

The two of them were like peas in a pod, hammering me with questions about the fire and what I had to do to get my friends out of trouble.

I gazed down at the two shining faces looking up at me as they both hugged my waist. I ruffled their heads then squeezed them both. “What’s for breakfast?”

“Well, it’s more like brunch,” Remi clarified. “You’re kinda late for breakfast.” She was so precocious, mature for her young years.

“Mom’s making pancakes!” Dylan said.

“With blueberries,” Jensen added. “Our favorite, right kids?”

“Yeah!” Dylan answered.

“Unca Ben!” Jace called, waving a chubby toddler hand. “Unca Ben!”

Chase put his young son down who then ran over, so I swooped down to scoop him up in my arms, then tossed him into the air. “Jace!” The little boy squealed with laughter. “Did you have a good sleep?”

“Yup! I hungry.”

“Me, too!”

The ranch atmosphere seemed to suit Chase and Jensen well. “Are the horses all fed?” I asked Dylan.

“I showed Dad and Uncle Chase how to do it. We’re almost done,” he professed proudly.

“Almost,” confirmed Jensen. “You go on in. You look like you need a rest.”

Truth be told, all I wanted was a meal, sleep, and my arms around Marin.

“Dark even gave me a hug, Uncle Ben!” Remi said. She and Dylan fell in step beside me as I walked toward the farmhouse. “Just like Siri does to Auntie Marin!” The little girl’s green eyes sparkled with excitement.

“He did? Where is Aunt Marin?” I asked.

“Oh, she’s sleeping. Mommy said we had to let her sleep in, so we gotta be quiet in the house.”

By the time we got close to the house the smell of bacon and coffee permeated the air. Missy turned to see who was coming through the door and her face softened in a relief. She put on a brave face, but I knew she was worried whenever I went out to fight a fire.

“Oh, Ben!” Missy lifted a pancake out of the skillet to a waiting plate as Teagan came to take Jace from my arms.

“Welcome back,” she said. “Come to Mommy, Jace.” Teagan held out her arms and he immediately went to her. “Let’s wash up for breakfast. Dylan, you and Remi, too.”

Missy walked to me and gave me a big hug as Teagan and the kids disappeared into the mud room to wash up away from the food.

“I don’t need to wash up. I just took a shower at the station.” I poked her in the ribs with my index finger.

“Cheeky,” she said. “Marin is in her room. We were up all-night watching movies, until she was so exhausted that she finally went upstairs around dawn.”

“Well, don’t you be over-doing it, Mommy,” I teased, going to the table and grabbing a slice of bacon from a pile waiting on a plate in the center. I devoured it and reached for another.

Missy’s lips lifted in a joyful smile. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel real. We’ve been trying for over a year.”

“Good things come to those who wait.” I winked.

I glanced toward the stairs, grabbing a paper towel and wiping the bacon grease from my fingers.

“Is she still mad?”

My